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I've had NHS hearing aids now for a year. I've been back to audiology dept several times as they're just not right. In a social setting, i.e. meeting, party, etc., they're completely useless as all they do is amplify the background noise meaning I still can't hear people talking. In fact, over Christmas, I found I could hear better without them. They're fine on, say, a country walk, as they amplify bird tweets etc.

Just wondering whether it's because the NHS ones are poor quality, and whether I'd have a better outcome if I got some privately - they're expensive, starting at £495. I don't want to fork out that kind of money if they're going to be similar to the NHS ones.

I have been wearing an NHS hearing aid for years, been changed a couple of times for a newer one. I have recently had a hearing test, a mould made of my ear, and a brand spanking new one issued to me. It's fantastic. When out walking I can hear noises a long way off. They are being improved all the time, the latest ones are brilliant. Can't fault it. Free batteries from the health centre across the road, make an appointment at audiology at the hospital if I need to see someone. No need to pay privately.

I have been wearing an NHS hearing aid for years, been changed a couple of times for a newer one. I have recently had a hearing test, a mould made of my ear, and a brand spanking new one issued to me. It's fantastic. When out walking I can hear noises a long way off. They are being improved all the time, the latest ones are brilliant. Can't fault it. Free batteries from the health centre across the road, make an appointment at audiology at the hospital if I need to see someone. No need to pay privately.

Cheeky beggar. What do you think I have been paying into for 45 years of my working life. Hardly ever used the NHS, one major, 2 minor operations, no long term health issues, fit and healthy at 69 because I eat the right foods and do plenty of exercise, and no medications don't need any. I think I am entitled to a hearing aid and batteries.

I know what you are saying re free batteries but paracetamol and aspirin is also available on prescription from the NHS but they are so cheap to buy I think people should buy them themselves, also hearing aid batteries if you can afford to. Just because we have all paid in ( I also worked full time for 47 yrs) doesn’t mean we have to take out every penny we can.
I am not trying to annoy anyone it’s just what I think, sometimes people wouldn’t even think to just buy them. Where I live you have to go to the hospital to collect them, by the time you pay for parking it’s not a lot of difference, unless you want to spend half the day going by bus.....

I know what you are saying re free batteries but paracetamol and aspirin is also available on prescription from the NHS but they are so cheap to buy I think people should buy them themselves, also hearing aid batteries if you can afford to. Just because we have all paid in ( I also worked full time for 47 yrs) doesn’t mean we have to take out every penny we can.
I am not trying to annoy anyone it’s just what I think, sometimes people wouldn’t even think to just buy them. Where I live you have to go to the hospital to collect them, by the time you pay for parking it’s not a lot of difference, unless you want to spend half the day going by bus.....

My thoughts are have the tests,they pick up things early so prevent further problems, (a cervical smear saved my life) all I said was batteries, not even hearing aids, can’t really see a problem sorry.
My reasoning is that they are not ‘free’ they have to be paid for by the NHS, any way in which we are able to mitigate the cost to the NHS must be a good thing. If it is a hardship to you by all means get them.

My thoughts are have the tests,they pick up things early so prevent further problems, (a cervical smear saved my life) all I said was batteries, not even hearing aids, can’t really see a problem sorry.
My reasoning is that they are not ‘free’ they have to be paid for by the NHS, any way in which we are able to mitigate the cost to the NHS must be a good thing. If it is a hardship to you by all means get them.

The NHS as a whole will get through millions and millions of hearing aid batteries each year so they will have had enormous negotiating power in purchasing these and will be paying only a tiny fraction of what a hearing aid user will pay if they buy them privately.It therefore makes sense to take advantage of this enormous discount.

The NHS as a whole will get through millions and millions of hearing aid batteries each year so they will have had enormous negotiating power in purchasing these and will be paying only a tiny fraction of what a hearing aid user will pay if they buy them privately.It therefore makes sense to take advantage of this enormous discount.

You say you have just bought 2 for 3k my question is did you try NHS ones before getting private and if so how would you rate the difference?
Or anyone else who has experience of both.
I have had NHS one for last 12 years but the last 2 have been awful From 2 different NHS providers I have found my 4 year old ones are far far better than the most recent ones even tried 5 adjustments very frustrating

I have two siblings who have both 'gone private' to deal with very severe loss. One went back to NHS but there were definitely more 'features' available with the private provider.

However, both have now had Cochlear Implants fitted and it has revolutionised their lives! You do have to be very deaf before you can be considered (another sibling has been turned down) and provision may vary from one area to another. Just putting the suggestion out there.

My dad had both. Yes private ones are defo better. Saying that it depends how good an audiologist you have as I am sure not a great one could make private ones not so great and other way round but the odds in general are for private to be better.

I'm three months in now trying private hearing aids with mixed results.

The NHS hearing aids were fitted and checked using REM technology i.e. real ear measurement and worked pretty good straight away. The trust told me that they had got the hearing aids in this year 2018 March and were the latest available. I think the phonak hearing aids are a few years old technology. I have a high hearing loss struggling to hear the wifes voice and high pitched voices generally.
I find with the NHS hearing aids I do get a bit of white noise on top o noisy environments such as train stations and kitchen/resteraunts sounds a little high.

I've just tried the latest Phonak Marvel hearing aids from boots costing 3000 with the latest bluetooth technology. Boots do not use REM to verify fit. I've been back twice now and the hearing aids don't seem as good as my NHS ones. They have lots of features with bluetooth (unreliable) and do seem to amplify very well but the background white noise I get with the hearing aids is no better than the NHS in some environments (not all). The strange thing is the clarity of speech is way better with the NHS hearing aids.

I've also tried expensive widex beyond hearing aids from specsavers. I ended up having these turned up way past my prescription and they actually worked slightly better than the NHS and had better noise reduction.
I also tried some siemens charge & go and they had superb natural voice which worked fantastic. However, again speech understanding was no better than the NHS. Noise reduction at translation, pubs was slightly better.

My overall conclusion is that the NHS although not perfect are pretty good. Private hearing aids have more features but speech understanding is no better and certainly not worth paying 3000 pounds for. I don't think the technology is their yet in the hearing aids to warrant the price.
By the way the price breakdown shows that the hearing aids actually cost something like 600 pounds and the rest of the cost goes to the practice i.e. boots or specsavers

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